Actuator for generating structure-borne sound

Abstract

An actuator, including an electric drive for converting electrical signals into mechanical deflections, the drive having a coil through which the current of the electrical signal can flow, and having a permanent magnet which can be in electromagnetic interaction with the coil, the actuator furthermore has a housing and a flat body, the flat body being able to be mechanically deflected and/or mechanically excited into vibration by the electric drive and, in the process, being able to radiate acoustic sound signals, wherein the flat body is connected integrally to at least part of the housing and at least part of the drive is connected to the flat body.

Claims

1. An actuator, comprising: an electric drive converting electrical signals into mechanical deflections, the electric drive including a coil through which the current of the electrical signal flows, and including a permanent magnet in electromagnetic interaction with the coil; a flat body including a first plane, a second plane opposite the first plane, and a first housing formed integrally with the flat body as an integral molded part, the first housing configured to receive the electric drive by interrupting both the first plane and the second plane of the flat body and surrounding a first portion of the electric drive positioned within the first housing, the first housing being connected to the first portion of the electric drive; and a second housing formed separate from the first housing, the second housing interrupting both the first plane and the second plane of the flat body and connected to the first housing to surround a second portion of the electric drive, the electric drive enclosed between the first housing and the second housing, wherein the flat body is mechanically deflected and/or mechanically excited into vibration by the electric drive to radiate acoustic sound signals.

2. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive has the coil and a coil carrier, wherein the coil carrier and/or the coil are/is connected directly to the flat body.

3. The actuator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first housing, is connected integrally to the flat body, and said first housing is connected by at least one centering device to the permanent magnet, and the permanent magnet is mounted by the centering device so as to be capable of vibrating.

4. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing is connected integrally to the flat body, and said first housing is connected by at least one centering device to the permanent magnet, and the permanent magnet is mounted by the centering device so as to be capable of vibrating.

5. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing together with the second housing forms a sealed housing.

6. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing is connected to the second housing by a form-fitting connection.

7. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator is designed in such a manner, and the permanent magnet is mounted in such a manner, that the permanent magnet is positioned in respect of an undeflected state and has a center of gravity in a region of the plane of the flat body.

8. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing and the second housing are designed and arranged in such a manner that they interrupt the plane of a radiating surface of the flat body.

9. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator is designed in such a manner that the first and the second housing are arranged on one side of the flat body, with respect to the plane of a radiating surface.

10. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator has a seal between the first housing and the second housing.

11. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flat body has a plane radiating surface and/or a surface with an angular curvature of less than 20°, in a region of the housing connected to the flat body.

12. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flat body is in a form of an interior trim part of a motor vehicle.

13. The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing is connected to the second housing by a latching connection and/or clip connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings, in a schematic illustration:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary actuator, in which the first housing part is formed integrally on the flat body in a manner protruding on one side,

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the actuator, in which the first and the second housing part are formed and arranged in such a manner that they interrupt the plane of the radiating surface of the flat body, and

(4) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the drive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(5) FIG. 1 shows a curved, flat body 4, on the one outer surface of which first housing part 5 is integrally formed. Flat body 4 and first housing part 5 are formed as a common plastics injection molded part. The inner lateral surface of the first housing part has a, for example encircling, groove 9 to which the second housing part 6 is or can be latched or connected in a form-fitting manner. In the interior of the first and second housing part 5, 6 there is arranged a coil 2 which is connected directly to the flat body 4 or is fixed directly thereon, for example by injection molding with plastic.

(6) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the actuator, in which the first and the second housing part 5, 6 are formed and arranged in such a manner that they interrupt the plane 10 of the radiating surface of the flat body 4.

(7) The thickness of the lateral surface of said body or of the radiating surface 10 is by way of example less than 0.6 cm. First housing part 5 is connected integrally to flat body 4 and has ventilation openings 8. The first and second housing parts 5, 6 are connected to each other in a form-fitting manner and form a substantially annular housing. Permanent magnet 3 is suspended on first housing part 5 by means of two separate centering devices 7 so as to be capable of vibrating. Coil 2 is fastened directly on flat body 4 and enters into an encircling air gap of the permanent magnet 3.

(8) An exemplary drive is illustrated by means of FIG. 3. Permanent magnet 3 has by way of example a cylindrical form with an encircling, slot-shaped air gap 11. The inner part of the permanent magnet is divided into two, a first disk-shaped part 12 is in the form, for example, of a pole plate of the permanent magnet, for example made of iron or a ferromagnetic material. An inner, second disk-shaped part 15 of the inner part of the permanent magnet is formed from a neodymium alloy and is arranged on the base 13 of the permanent magnet.

(9) The first disk-shaped part 12 is arranged on that side of the second disk-shaped part 15 of the permanent magnet that faces away from the base 13. The base 13 and the outer ring 14 are formed from iron or a ferromagnetic material.

(10) The inner part 12, 15 of the permanent magnet is cylindrical and its lateral surface is surrounded by air gap 11. Coil 2 enters into air gap 11. Permanent magnet 3 is suspended by its outer lateral surface of the outer ring 14 on two separate centering devices 7 which are spaced apart from each other and are aligned substantially parallel to each other in the undeflected state. Permanent magnet 3 therefore comprises an outer ring 14 and a base 13 and also an inner part which has the first and second disk-shaped parts 12 and 15. The air gap 2 is formed in an encircling manner as a slot-shaped recess between ring 14 and inner parts 12 and 15.